Can-sealing machine



Nov. 2 1926.

H. SEBELL CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1925 5 sheets-sheet 1 Fig. 1. 3?

Harry SebeH Maw. 2 1926 1,605,147 H. SEBELL CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 9 nvenror. Harry Sebeli Nov. 2, 1926. 1,605,147

I H. SEBELL CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f a ///A as i2 a6 23 L17 lnverflor.

Hcirry. Sebell byMWl M A1 Tye Nov. 2 1926.

H. SEBELL CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1925 WM/l 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor. Harry SebeH b MMIM Arrys.

CAN S EALING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet R IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lnvenfor.

Harry Sebell WW/(W Aflys Patented Nov, 2,' 1926.

untrue stares PATENT QFFICE.

HARRY menu, on nosrolv, MASSACHUSETTS, ssrenon T nn'rnon H. PARKER, 0F LEXINGTON. MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-SEALING MACHINE.

Application filed March 23, 1925.

This invention relates to a machine for sealing a can and particularly a can of that type in which scaling is accomplished by a U-shapedsealing strip which embraces superposed lateral flanges formed on the'can body and can cover respectively. The principal object of the invention is to provide a can sealing machine of this type which is relatively simple in construction and in operation and which comprises relatively few parts. i

The operation of sealing a can with this Ll-shaped sealing strip involves inserting one end of the sealing strip into position to embrace the flanges of the can body and cap and then rotating the can and drawing the sealing strip into place, the flanges of the can with the sealing strip inserted being passed between two presserelements which,

press them tightly together.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a can sealing machine of this type in which the rotary motion of the can is derived from a rotatable driving member which engages and drives the top of the can, the can body itself being rotated by its frictional engagement with the top of the can.

Other objects of the invention .are to improve can sealing machines in various ways all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof .which' will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side View of a can sealing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on substant ally the line 22, 3;

3 is a section taken on substantially the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. is a sectional View through the driving chuck;

as an end viewof said chuck; I

e a fra m nta y Sectional iew es e e r tien of t Sea in Whe Fig. 'Z is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the sealing strip is intth $erial No. 17,458.

Fg. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88, Fig. 3.-

Fig. 9 is a section on substantially the line 9-9, Fig. 7

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary sectional View of a can which has been sealed with my improved machine.

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the position of the can supporting memben'driving memher and guide ring when the can is first placed into the machine; 1

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing'the position of the parts during thesealing operation.

Before describing the-machine and its operation I will refer to the character of the seal which is made. The device is specially intended for effecting the seal illustrated in Fig. 10. In said figurelindicates aportion of a can body which has at'its upper edge the outwardly-extending flange 2 The can cover is indicated at 3 and it is for red with the rip-standing circular curb or portion t which is forced into the open top of. the can body 1 and with the laterally-extending flange 5 which overlies the flange 2 of the can body. A U-shaped sealing'strip 6 embraces the flanges 2 and 5, said sealing strip being firmly compressed in a vertical direction to make a tight joint. 7 indicates a packing ring which is interposed between the flanges 2 and 5. The flange 5 is herein shown as of double thickness it being formed by bending the'material back on itself and the cap 3 is also shown having a top flange 8 which overlies the sealing strip.

The machine herein shown operates to insertv the sealing strip 6 as shown in Fig. 10 and also operates to compress the sealing strip and'the flanges 2, 5 and 8 in a vertical direction to clamp them tightly to getherand make a tight'j'oint. This sealing strip is placed in sealing position by first inserting one end thereof over the flanges 2 and-5 after the can top has been forc'ed nt the n bdd yie idithn r t t ng he i-, ee t the a e w d ma th l:

s S rip i t? Plat a wsi he fl n e 2 and sive'ly.

s its. ture o body and top are rotated while the sealing strip is being applied. The can body rests on a rotatable can-supporting member which is an idle member and the assembled can and top are rotated by a driving member which sets into the cover and frictionally engages the walls 4 thereof, this being the onlv driven element in the device.

The operative parts of the machine are supported on a suitable frame which is indicated at 9. The can-su 3porting member on which the can is mounted is indicated at .0 and it is in the form of a turntable which is rotatively mounted on a support 11 which is movable vertically in the frame said support having a stem 12 which is slidable in a guide portion 13 of the frame. The turntable or can support is also shown as having a stem 14 situated axially thereof which extends into an axial bore in the member 11 and which rests on a ball bearing 15.

Situated directly above the can support is the dri=ving member which is indicated generally at 16. This is carried by a vertical shaft 17 which is journaled in the frame and which is driven from a driving shaft 18 through suitable bevelled gears 19. The shaft 18 is shown as being driven from a driving pulley 20 which may be connected to the shaft by a one-revolution clutch indicated generally at 21, said clutch being actuated from a treadle by means of the link connection 22.

The driving member 16 is constructed to enter the top 3 of the can and frictionally engage the wall 4 thereof as above described. This driving member is in the form of an automatically-operative clutch. It comprises a plurality of clutch members 28 each having an exterior curved clutch surface 24 formed on a curvature to fit the wall 4. These clutch members are surrounded by a spring 25 which normally holds them in contracted position and each member is provided on its inner face with a notch or socket '26 in which is received a clutch ball 27. These balls co-operate with a hardened steel plate 28 which is secured to the lower face of the member 16 and which is provided with inclined cam surfaces 29 adjacent the balls. The clutch members are normally in the position shown in Fig. 5 but when the member 16 is rotated in the direcion of the arrow Fig. 5 the clutch members will be forced outwardly into clutching engagement with the wall 4 so that the rotation of the member 16 will be communicated to the can top. The clutching action will increase as the resistance to the rotation of the (an increases and thus. an automatically-operative clutch is provided for rotating the can as will be presently described.

During the sealing operation the upper end of the can is guided by a freely rotatable guiding ring 30 whi h is rotatably mounted the vertically movable support 11.

in a swinging frame 31 that is pivoted at 32. This ring 30 is mounted on ball bearings 33 and has an opening 34 somewhat larger than the can. The upper edge 35 of the ring forms a support on which the flange of the can body rests during the'sealing operation and this ring co-operates with a sealing wheel 36 to compress the sealing strip 6 and the flanges 2 and 5 together. The sealing wheel is also freely rotatable and is mounted on a stud shaft 37 which is journaled in a rocking member 38 pivoted at 39 to the swinging frame 31. This rocking member is acted on by a spr'ng 40 which tends normally to hold the sealing wheel 36 raised or separated from the surface of the ring 30. The sealing wheel is also provided with a guide flange 41 and which bears against the outer face of the sealing strip 6 as the latter is fed into the machine.

42 indicates a cam shaft which is journaled in the frame and which is provided with two cams 43 and 44. One of these cams controls the swinging movement of the frame 31 and the other cam controls the rocking member 38 and also the vertical movement of the can support 10. The cam 44 is adapted to engage a roll 45 carried by the frame 31 and when the high portion 60 of the cam 44 engages this roll the frame will be swung forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 while when the low portion 46 of said cam engages the roll 45 the frame will be swung backwardly by a spring 70 so as to bring the opening 34 substantially centrally over the can support 10. This is the position of the parts when the can is inserted. lVhen the machine is started the frame 31 is swung forward by the cam 44 so as to bring the can against the wall of the ring 30 at the side where the sealing wheel is located.

The cam co-operates with a lever 48 to raise the member 11 as the machine is started for the purpose of forcing the ca top into the can body. This lever 48 is pivoted at 49 to the frame of the machine and the end 50 thereof engages underneath .V hen the machine is at rest the end 51. occupies the low portion or notch 52 of the cam and the member 11 is then in its lowered position. As the cam 43 is turned the high portion 47 engages the end 51 of the lever thus also swinging the lever and raising the table 11 as shown in Fig. 2, this raising movement occurring during the initial turning movement of the cam shaft. The cam 43 further has a low portion 53 and a high portion 54 which co-operate with a roll 55 carried on the end of the rocking arm 38.

YVhen the machine is at rest in the position shown in Fig. l the low portion 53 is situated beneath the roll 55 and the sealing 1 113 therefore, will be, el va e y the iii) spring 40. As the cam shaft is turned and the high portion 44 goes under the roll 45 the sealing wheel will be depressed into engagement with the can top as will be obvious.

The construction is such that a'partial turning movement only of the cam shaft is requisite to give the necessary movement to the cam-actuated parts. I have herein shown the cam shaft as being operated by a handle 56 which is fast thereon and a movement of the handle from the full line position Fig. 1 to the dotted line position will be suflicient to actuate the parts.

The sealing strip 6 is guided into its operative position by means of a guiding member 57, the latter having a groove 58 in which the sealing strip is inserted. The end of this groove'is provided with the cam face 59 which operates to force the sealing strip laterally andinto place over the flanges 2 and when the machine is first started.

The operation of the device will be ap parent from the forgoing. When the machine is at rest, as shown. in Fig. 1, a can is placed on the support 10 and a can cover is placed loosely inposition on top of the can, (see Fig. 11), a gasket ring having been placed on the flange 2 of the can. At this time the swinging frame 31 is in its rearward posit-ion with the opening 34 therein in substantial axial alignment with the can support 10 as seen in Fig. 11. When the can has been placed in position the operator turns the handle 56 from the full to the dotted line position thereby turning the cams from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. During the initial turning movement of the cams the high portion 47 of the camv 43 will ride under the end 51 of the lever 48 thereby swinging said lever and elevating the table 11. This forces the can upwardly and forces .tbe cover of the can against the member 16, the latter entering the cover as shown in Fig. 12. The upward movement of the table 11 is sufficient in extent so that by this movement the cover will be forced into the top of the can as shown in Fig. 12.

The high portion 47 of the cam 43 is concentric so that during further rotation of the cam the lever 48 will be held in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the table 11 raised. As the cam shaft continues to rotate the low portion 46 of the cam 44 passes off from engagement with the roll 45 and the high portion 60 of the cam engages said roll thereby swinging the frame 31 forwardly. The upward movement ofthe cam olue to the operation of the cam 43 and lever- 48 sufficient tobring the flange 2 of the can slightly above the top surface 35 of the ring and when the frame 31 is swung forwardly or intothe position; shown Fig. saiditop" edge of the nag is carried be neatlr the flange 2 of the canand the Wall of the can is brought against the inner wall of the ring 30 at a point directly beneath the sealing wheel 36. The parts arrive at this position when the handle has been partially it turned and before the high portion 54 of the cam passes under the roll 55. At this time the operator trips the clutch thereby setting the driving member 16 in rotation. The

friction of the faces 24 of the clutch inembers against the wall 4 of the can cover causes the clutch to expand so that the can cover will be rotated by the member 16 and the friction between the can cover and the can will rotate the can body. The friction ing remembered that the flange 2 is at this time slightly above the wall of the ring. As soon as thesealing strip has been thus placed in position the operator completes the swinging movement of the handle 56 thus bringing the high portion 54 of the cam 43 under the roll and forcing the sealing wheel 36 downwardly against the flange S of the cover.

The flanges of the cover and can body and the legs of the sealing strip are clamped tightly together and as the can is rotated by the rotating member 16 the sealing strip will. be progressively drawn in and clamped in place. During this operation the flange 41 of the sealing wheel serves to guide the sealing strip and assist in correctly positioning it.

When the member 16 and consequently the can have made one complete revolution so that the sealing strip has been forced into place completely around the can then the one-revolution clutch will operate to'stop the machine and bring it to rest and the opera tor may then return the handle to the full line position thus releasing the sealed can which may then be removed.

I have herein provided a stop device which serves to limit the movement of the handle when the can has been placed in positionto be sealed. This stop is in the form of a spring catch 61 which is adapted to snap into a slot or groove 62 formed in the handle.

56 as shown in Fig. 8. The catch is provided with a finger piece 63 by which it may be released from the handle in order to permit the handle to be returned to the position shown in Fig, 1. V a

Inoperating the device the operator wiii s 1.. g the handle downwardly until the cantases into the slot- 62; This wii'l Lab.)

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Lil)

properly position the cams for the correct sealing operation.

To provide a fine adjustment I propose to make the high portion 54 of the cam 43 slightly eccentric and to provide means for adjusting the stop member 61 up or down slightly. This member 61 is shown as slotted at (ti and is secured to the swinging frame by means of suitable clamping bolts 65 extending through the slot. By this means the catch 61 can be adjusted vertically so as to ensure that the cams will be properly positioned when the lever is in its lowered position.

Vi hile I have herein illustrated a selected en'ihodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the constructional features sh own I claim:

1. in a. machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover provided with an upstanding circular curb which sets into the can and also provided with a lateral flange *-.*erlyi11g the can flangm the combination with a freely rotatable can support on which said can is adapted to rest, of a driving member in the form of an expansible clutch adapted to have clutching engagement with the upstanding curb of the cover thereby to rotate the cover and also the can through the frictional engagcment between said cover and can, and means to press the flanges of the can and cover together as the can is rotated by the d ri vi 1 1 g member.

2. In a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover provided with an upstanding circular curb which sets into the can and also provided with a lateral flange overlying the can flange. the combination with a freely rotatable can support on which said can is adapted to rest, of a driving member in the form of an expansible clutch adapted to have clutching engagement with the upstanding curb of the cover thereby to rotate the cover and also the can through the frictional engagement between saidcover and can, and two freely-rotatable members between which the flanges of the can and cover are drawn by the rotation imparted to the can and cover by the driving member, said freely rotatable members pressing said flanges together.

3. in a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover provided with an upstanding circular curb which sets into the can and also provided with a lateral flange overlying the can flange, the combination with a freely-rotatable can support on which said can is adap ed to rest, of a driving member in the form of an expansible clutch adapted to have clutching engagement with the upstanding curb of the cover thereby. to rota e the c ver and also the can through the frictional engagement between said cover and can, a guide for guiding a U-shaped sealing strip over said flanges, and means to press said sealing strip and flanges together as the can is rotated by the driving member.

4. In a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover provided with an upstanding curb which flts into the top of the can, which cover has a lateral flange overlying that of the can, the combination with a freely-rotatable can support on which said can is adapted to rest, of two freely-rotatable sealing members adapted to engage said flanges and press them together. and a rotary driving member separate from the sealing members and hav ing sufficient frictional driving engagement with the curb of the cover to rotate the can and thereby draw the flanges of the can and c ver between the rotatable sealing members.

In a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover provided with an upstanding curb which fits into the top of the can, which cover has a lateral flange overlying that of the can the combination with a freely-rotatable can sup port on which said can is adapted to rest, of two freely-rotatable sealing members adapted to engage said flanges and press them together, a rotary driving member in the form of an expansible clutch adapted to have frictional clutching engagement with the cover suflicient to rotate the cover and can and draw said flanges between the freely-rotatable sealing members.

6. In a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover having an upstanding peripheral curb which fits into the top of the can, which cover has atlange overlying the flange of the can, the combination with a freely-rotatable can support, of a guide for guiding a U-shaped sealing strip over the flanges or" the can co or. two freelyrotatable sealing members for pressing the strip and flanges together to seal the can, and a rotary driving member separate from the sealing members and having suflicient frictional driving engagement with the upstanding curb of the cover to rotate the cover and the can and to draw the sealing strip onto the flanges as the can is rotated.

7. In a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover having a flange overlying that of the can, the com bination with a freelyrotatable annular member surrounding the can and on the upper edge of which the flange of the can rests, of a freely-rotatable sealing wheel co-opperating with said annular member to press the flanges together, and a rotary driving me'nher having suflicient frictional engagement with the cover to rotate the cover and can.

8, In a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at its top and a cover having an upstanding curb which fits into the can top and a flange overlying the flange of the can, the combination with a freely-rotatable annular member surrounding the can and 1 cover to rotate the cover and can.

9. In a machine for sealing a can having a lateral flange at 1ts top and a cover which has an upstanding curb fitting into the can top and a flange overlying that of the can,

the combination with a freely-rotatable can support of a freely-rotatable annular member surrounding the can and engaging the flange thereof, a freely ro-tatable sealing wheel co-operatmg with sald annular membe r, meansfor guiding a U-shaped sealing strip over the flangesand between the annular member and the sealing wheel, and a combination with can-supporting means, of

a freelyerotatable annular member encircling the can, the diameter of the opening through said member bein somewhat larger than thatof the can, a seallngtwheel co-o perating with said member to press together overlapping flanges on the can body and cover, driving means adapted to frictionally engage the cover and thereby rotate the can, and means for moving the annular member laterally to bring one side thereof ,into engagement with one side of lthegcanvand also moving the sealing wheel toward the annular member to press the flanges together.

11. In a machine for sealing cans, the combination with can supporting means, of a freely-rotatable annular member situated to surround a can carried by the can-supporting means and to bear against the under side of the flange on the can, a sealing wheel co-operating with the annular member to press together the flanges 0n the cover and can, and means independent of the sealing wheel and annular member to rotate the can.

12. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with can-supporting means, of a swinging frame, an annular member freely rotatable in the frame and situated to surround a can carried by the can-supporting means, the diameter of the opening through the annular member being larger than the diameter of the can, means to swing the frame to bring said annular member against the side of the can and beneath the flange on the can, a sealing wheel co-operating with'said annular member to press together the flanges on the can cover and can body, and means independent from said sealing wheel and annular member to rotate the can.

'13. In a machine for sealing a can, the

combination with can-supporting means, I of a freely-rotatable annular member situated to surround the can carried by the can-sup porting means, an expansible clutch adapted to.h-ayet,fr.ic tio nal engagement with the upstanding curb of the cover by which the can is sealed and which fits int-o the mouth of the can, means to rotate the clutch and thereby to rotate the can, and a sealing wheel cooperating with said annular member to press together flanges on the can body and cover.

"14, In a can-sealing machine for sealing a can which has a can body with a flange and cover with an vupstanding curb 'to fit into the top of the canand with a flange to overlie that of the can body, the combina- ;tion with can-supporting means, of a swinging frame, an annular member freely rotatable in the frame, the diameter of the opening ithroughsaid member being greater than the diameter of the can, means to swing the frame to. bring said member against the side Of the can and underneath the flange on the can, .;an' enpansible clutch adapted to have frictional engagement with the upstanding (curb-.of the cover, means to rotate said clutch and thereby to rotate the camand a sealing wheel, co-operating with the annular memher .to press together theflangeson the cover and can body.

"115. In aflc'an-sealing machine for sealing :a can which has a ican body with a flange .and anoxrer with an upstanding curb to fit into the top offthe-can' and with a flange to 'oveiilie that of the :can body, the combinationwith ean supporting means, of a swing ing frame, an annular member freely rotatable in the frame, the "diameter'of the open in g through said member being greater than the diameter of the can, means to swing the frame to bring said member against the side of the can and underneath the 'flangeon the 1 can, an. expansibleolutch adaptedrto have frictional engagement with the upstanding curb of the cover, means to rotate said clutch and thereby to rotate the can, means to guide a U-shaped sealing strip over the flanges on the cover and can, and a sealing wheel to press said strip and flanges together thereby to seal the can. I

16. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with can-supporting means, of an eXpans-ible clutch adapted to frietionally engage a can cover, means to rotate the clutch and thereby rotate the can, two freely-rotatable members between which the flanges 0n the can body and can cover pass,

means to relatively move the can-supporting means and clutch toward each other thereby to press the cover into the can, and means to move the sealing wheel relative to the annular member thereby to press said tlanp together.

17. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with can-supporting means, of an expansible clutch adapted to frictionally engage a can cover, means to rotate the clutch and thereby rotate the can, two freely-rotatable members between which the flanges on the can body and can cover pass, a cam shaft, means to rotate the same, and cams on the cam shaft for relatively moving the can-supporting means and clutch toward each other thereby 'to press the cover into the can and for also relatively moving the sealing wheel and annular member toward each other.

18. In a machine for sealing cans having a can body with a flange and a can cover provided with an upstanding curb to set into the can. body and also provided with a flange to overlie that of the can body, the combination with can-supporting means, of a swinging irame, an annular member freely rotatable in the frame and adapted to surround the can, the opening in said member having a diameter greater than the diameter 01 the can, a can-rotating member constructed to have sufiicient frictional engagement with the can cover to rotate the can, a sealing wheel co-operating with the annular member to press together the flanges of the can and cover as the can is rotating, a cam shaft, means to turn the cam shaft, and cams thereon operating first to move the can-supporting means and clutch relative to each other thereby to press the can cover into the can, and then to swing the frame to bring the annular member against the side of the can and under the flange of the can and subsequently to move the sealing wheel toward the annular member to press the flanges 01" the can and cover together.

19. In a machine for sealing cans having a can body with a flange and a can cover provided with an upstanding curb to set into the can body and also provided with a flange to overlie that of the can body, the combination with cansupporting means, oi" a swinging frame, an annular member freely rotatable in the frame and adapted to surround the can, the opening in said member having a diameter greater than the diameter of the can, a can-rotating member constructed to have suflicient frictional engagement with the can cover to rotate the can, means to guide a U-shaped sealing strip over said flanges as the can is rotated, a sealing wheel co-operating with the annular member to press together the sealing strip and the flanges of the can and cover as the can is rotating, a cam shaft, means to turn the cam shaft, and cams thereon operating first to move the can-supporting means and clutch relative to each other thereby to press the cover into the can, and then to swing the frame to bring the annular member against the side of the can and under the flange of the can and subsequently to move the sealing wheel toward the annular member to press the flanges of the can and cover together,

20. In a can-sealing machine, the eombination with can-supporting means, of a driving member adapted to have driving engagement with the top of the can, two freely-rotatable meml ers between which the flanges of the can body and can cover pass as the can is rotated by the driving member, a cam shatt, means to operate it, and cams on said shaft operating as the shaft is turned first to move the can support and driving member relatively towards each other, thereby to force the can top into the can and then to press the freely-rotatable members together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY S E B E L] J. 

